When the Southern Miss Golden Eagles engage the Alabama football team Saturday morning, it will be the 44th meeting between the two schools. That is a long series for an Alabama Crimson Tide opponent who has never been a member of the SEC.
Given the short distance between the two schools – Hattiesburg, MS to Tuscaloosa is only 180 miles – proximity has made the games convenient. Somewhat oddly, all the games have taken place in the state of Alabama. Besides Tuscaloosa, games have been played in Birmingham, Montgomery and Mobile. Southern Mississippi has only won five of the games but it does lead in games played in Montgomery, Al, 2-1.